Review: Romance & Cigarettes

Once you get past the innane musical sequences in John Turturro's Romance & Cigarettes (that's basically the first half), it's actually a decent enough film. It's a great ensemble film, with Susan Sarandon, Mary-Louise Parker, Aida Turturro, and especially Kate Winslet as Tula turning in impressive performances (does Winslet ever not?). But like I said, the first half is almost unbearable ( I was tempted several times to just turn the DVD player off), and the last half falls easily into sticky melodrama (though this is where Winslet and, in just a scene seconds long and without words, Parker, shine). If it weren't for the very capable cast, the film would be an unforgivable disaster. Grade: C+ (see how much a good cast matters?)